Glad New Yr to all of the motor racing followers on the market! (And even in the event you’re not a racing fan however are someway studying this, Glad New Yr to you, too.)
As has change into customary at the moment of yr/lazy effort on my half to not give you a brand new function, I wish to stay up for the upcoming season and make a couple of requests. If that is your first time placing up with my musings, then it’s best to know that these will not be a set of predictions, and some of them are additionally a bit bit past a practical hope and nearer to a request for a miracle.
When you’re pondering of placing any cash behind any of those concepts, I’d in all probability recommend you suppose once more – though you possibly can take a look at last year’s wishlist to see that generally I do get my method, so perhaps I ought to again a couple of of them myself…
REGULAR COMPETITION FOR WINS FROM MULTIPLE TEAMS
That is just about a lock in each single wishlist that I do, however this yr you would argue it’s a fair larger ask than normal. New rules are likely to carry a bigger area unfold, and a higher probability of 1 workforce getting its new automotive very proper and pulling a giant benefit over the chasing pack.
2014 was undoubtedly one such yr, and 2017 in some ways as effectively – with Mercedes dominant on each events – however Ferrari has twice been within the combine, each in 2017 and in 2022 towards Purple Bull, earlier than fading from a title problem.
McLaren’s efficiency at the beginning of final yr was a shock given the anticipated convergence, however we’ve nonetheless been handled to various weekends if you’re not 100% what the aggressive order might be. Going into 2026, the potential could be there for dominance, however the price cap would possibly simply have helped stop anybody energy unit producer and workforce mixture from pulling too far clear.
The Mercedes energy unit has been always referenced because the benchmark over the previous 18 months, however even when that seems to be the case, with McLaren and Mercedes each utilizing the identical engine, I actually hope that the 2 of them are carefully matched on the very least.
Excellent world, make it at the very least two groups with totally different energy items which are on the entrance of the sphere, as a result of that units the tone not only for one yr, however all the period.
NORRIS GOES UP A LEVEL
The end to final season was spectacular from Lando Norris (stating the apparent as he wins his first world championship) however there was undoubtedly a piece that didn’t totally get behind his achievement, and it felt like that was as a result of he didn’t at all times carry out on the stage we all know he’s able to.
Within the first half of the season, Norris struggled to hit the heights each weekend. He did so usually sufficient to point out everybody what was within the locker, however not usually sufficient to stop some frustration when he stumbled barely.
However confidence locations a giant position in efficiency, and maybe the title win will present a lift that helps him entry one of the best of his potential on a extra common foundation.
And I get the impression Norris must, based mostly on the event fee of Oscar Piastri to this point in his quick Components 1 profession. If McLaren give the pair one other title-worthy automotive, they might effectively be much more formidable contenders than they have been this yr, and I wish to see these within the combat acting at their finest as usually as attainable.
New ruleset, contemporary probability for Hamilton to return to the entrance with Ferrari. Andy Hone/Getty Photos
HAMILTON AND FERRARI (FINALLY) CLICK
This was a subject a yr in the past and the hope nonetheless holds. I by no means want for a unfavourable storyline anyplace in F1 – even when some kinds of drama and controversy can create power and curiosity – besides I might argue that Lewis Hamilton struggling at his new workforce was notably deflating. You would possibly assist one other driver and wish to see them beating Hamilton, however similar to the McLaren drivers towards Max Verstappen, it means all of the extra if you’re beating high quality like that after they’re performing effectively.
At instances Hamilton was very near Charles Leclerc by way of qualifying tempo (an actual energy of Leclerc’s) and he had some robust races, so there have been indicators of life at instances, but it surely does really feel like a race-winning automotive brings one of the best out of the seven-time world champion.
It might be fascinating to see the dynamic between Hamilton and Leclerc if Ferrari manages to begin the brand new rules as a contender as soon as once more, however on prime of that it could seemingly elevate general curiosity within the championship if the Hamilton-Ferrari partnership begins to ship massive outcomes.
After all of the discuss, it’s going to quickly be time for Cadillac to point out what’s it is bought. Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Photos
CADILLAC ISN’T TOO FAR OFF THE BACK
Don’t take that subheading too negatively, as a result of we have to take a look at what is really lifelike for a brand new workforce becoming a member of the grid this yr.
Cadillac isn’t simply constructing a automotive for the brand new rules, it’s additionally constructing a workforce for the aim of constructing that automotive within the first place. It would really feel like a very long time coming, however it’s lower than 10 months since remaining approval was given for the workforce to obtain its entry, and an enormous quantity of labor has been required since then to easily run a automotive in pre-season.
This is not a Haas-style entry both (the Ferrari buyer tie-up was precisely the way it ought to have been accomplished again in 2016, however the sport seems very totally different as we speak), and there may be a lot that Cadillac is making itself that it could be silly to count on a Haas-esque aggressive opening that delivers massive outcomes right away.
And you would argue that wouldn’t be nice for F1 general. If the usual of the prevailing 10 groups is so excessive that the most recent workforce finishes on the backside of the constructors’ championship, then that’s an indication of the standard of the championship, but additionally heightens Cadillac’s achievement when it does begin beating rivals frequently.
If Cadillac is a great distance off, although, then it could make for a extremely robust yr (or extra) for TWG Motorsports and GM, and I additionally don’t suppose notably helps fan curiosity.
Over the previous few years – whereas Cadillac was making an attempt to achieve an entry beneath the Andretti title – some rivals mentioned they have been actually eager to see it authorized simply so Michael Andretti might learn the way arduous it’s to even compete in F1. If it desires to name itself the top of motorsport, then F1 needs to be extraordinarily arduous for any new entrant, however I nonetheless wish to see a Cadillac workforce that begins to seek out its toes and shake up the institution.
